What is elephantiasis? Elephantiasis is a condition where the skin thickens and hardens after excessive swelling associated with lymph accumulation (lymphedema). It is most marked in the lower limbs but also commonly affects the scrotum in males, and may also affect the breasts and arms.
relent. 1  to soften in feeling, temper, or determination; become more mild, compassionate, or forgiving. 2  to become less severe; slacken: The winds relented. 3  Obsolete. to cause to soften in feeling, temper, or determination. 4  Obsolete. to cause to slacken; abate. 5  Obsolete. to abandon; relinquish.
The pathogenicity of an organism-its ability to cause disease-is determined by its virulence factors. The noun virulence derives from the adjective virulent.Virulent can describe either disease severity or a pathogen's infectivity. Some virulent bacteria produce special proteins that allow them to colonize parts of the host body. 2  Helicobacter pylori is able to survive in the acidic environment of the human stomach by producing the enzyme urease.